3 minute read
Bedtime Story jumped to the head of the 1000 Guineas ante-post market after her nine-and-a-half-length demolition in the Group 3 Chesham Stakes on the final day of Royal Ascot.
The daughter of Frankel was sent off the 11/8 favourite for the formidable Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore combination and in all truth, success never really looked in doubt as she took her record to a perfect two from two in stunning fashion.
Moore may have endured a torrid passage en-route to steering Fairy Godmother to success in the opening Albany Stakes yesterday, but the week's leading rider had no such troubles in race one on day five of the royal meeting.
Bedtime Story always looked to be travelling much the best under Ryan Moore throughout the seven-furlong contest and quickly put the race to bed with a devasting turn of foot as the field approached the two-furlong market. The George Boughey-trained Pentle Bay was sent off in hot pursuit under Tom Marquand, but he could only give chase in vain as the well-backed 11/8 market leader scorched up the Ascot straight for a sensational nine-and-a-half length romp.
Sylvester Kirk's 28/1 chance Brian ran on to grab the third position.
Understandably, Paddy Power was suitably impressed and enlisted the winner as their 3/1 favourite (from 14s) for the 1000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket next season. Punters quickly latched on to the 3/1 available, causing the same firm to shorten her to 11/4 shortly after. Yesterday's impressive Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother, who also represents team Ballydoyle, was eased out to 11/2 (from 4s) for the same opening Classic of the British Flat season.
O'Brien said: "We never let her go before, it's the first time we've asked her to stretch, and she just took off. We've treated her gently; she has unbelievable pedigree and she's obviously very special.
"Ryan said he couldn't believe it; he said everyone fell away, he said 'go on', and she just took off. He didn't even give her a slap down the shoulder.
"It's unusual for a filly to do that, she'd won nicely the first time, but we thought she was a Group 1 filly.
"You all saw what I saw, we won't be looking for one that's better, that is for sure."
Moore said: "The only I time worked was pulling up really. She travelled very easily, they've gone too slow for her really.
"I had room at the three, so we started going forward and the race was over very quickly. Obviously, she's a level above all of them."
When asked to compare her with Albany Stakes winner Fairy Godmother, Moore added: "It's a hard one. They haven't really been asked to do too much at home. We don't know a whole about them, we don't know what they've beaten yet, but they are two very exciting fillies.
